Bed Sag....
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Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Washington State
Thanks for the imput guys!
I ruled out the bed during the process. Looked at all the mounts/cross sills, measured, remeasured, etc. Just having done a complete bed resto on the 67 C10 LWB, I had all the tools and know how to check it out. Note to self, tearing apart a 40+ year old bed and reassymbling square and plumb is not gonna happen again. Unfortunately, no one at the time was repoping lwb bed parts....short beds....a dime a dozen. LOL
So, bed is good and there is no sign of damage or repairs...I looked!
The fact that the left and right springs are different, even though they both are a 3/1 pack, told me and the guys @ Benz that there had been a replacement. They also looked at the frame. Two thumbs up! So, a week from this monday, in go the new "matched" spings.
I'm picking up the Moog bushing kit today @ Napa (we've got an account there) and I'll let you all know how it goes and how they are. I'll do my best to get some pics of the process and the set with description of the parts once I get them in my hands.
Other than that, this truck sure is fun and man it's nice to have a daily driver truck again. The C10 prostreet is registered as a "collector" (one time reg with no yearly rereg for ever) and so it's not a daily driver. Not to mention the wet road manners are interesting. LOL So, she stays in the shop all warm and fuzzy. LOL
I'll post later when I get the bushings in hand.
I ruled out the bed during the process. Looked at all the mounts/cross sills, measured, remeasured, etc. Just having done a complete bed resto on the 67 C10 LWB, I had all the tools and know how to check it out. Note to self, tearing apart a 40+ year old bed and reassymbling square and plumb is not gonna happen again. Unfortunately, no one at the time was repoping lwb bed parts....short beds....a dime a dozen. LOL
So, bed is good and there is no sign of damage or repairs...I looked!
The fact that the left and right springs are different, even though they both are a 3/1 pack, told me and the guys @ Benz that there had been a replacement. They also looked at the frame. Two thumbs up! So, a week from this monday, in go the new "matched" spings.
I'm picking up the Moog bushing kit today @ Napa (we've got an account there) and I'll let you all know how it goes and how they are. I'll do my best to get some pics of the process and the set with description of the parts once I get them in my hands.
Other than that, this truck sure is fun and man it's nice to have a daily driver truck again. The C10 prostreet is registered as a "collector" (one time reg with no yearly rereg for ever) and so it's not a daily driver. Not to mention the wet road manners are interesting. LOL So, she stays in the shop all warm and fuzzy. LOL
I'll post later when I get the bushings in hand.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Waterford, CT
Update on the bed sag...or so I thought.......
Finished measuring and during that found something very interesting. The drivers side is not sagged....the passenger side is lifted about 1/2". How you ask, well here's the scoop!
Found the lower (overload) spring on the pass. side not in the same position as the drivers side....it was farther rearward and there was no air gap at the ends to the 3 leaf pack like the drivers side. Called a local well respected spring company and the guy knew exactly what the problem was. Sheared center bolt! Went down and let him look at it visually and yep, it had shifted. He told me that this is usually a sign that the u-bolts had loosened up or been loose at one time and the axle wrapping action shears the bolt....and usually on the pass. side with non LS diffs. Once the bolt shears, each roll of the axle spring pad slowly forces the lower spring to slide rearward. When this happens, it puts it into a different position and arc location to the upper pack causing it to provide force to or not allowing the pack to sit in a rested position and acts like an added spring leaf...kind of a backyard 1/2" lift kit....LOL.
The best part, he sold me a new center bolt @ $1 and told me the procedure which is just a little easier than removing the whole leaf pack and sent me on my way. They could have done it for a price, but he was helping me save some money and I thought that was very cool! If I ever need springs, I'll go there without question. And, they can reproduce the "L" spring pack since Ford no longer has them available....obsolete. But these guys have the specs to the "t". While in there, he also looked at the shackles and mounts and all was in great shape.
Well, there it is in a nut shell and I will be repairing this monday if the weather cooperates or I can use the shop at work. I'll let you all know how it turns out.
Finished measuring and during that found something very interesting. The drivers side is not sagged....the passenger side is lifted about 1/2". How you ask, well here's the scoop!
Found the lower (overload) spring on the pass. side not in the same position as the drivers side....it was farther rearward and there was no air gap at the ends to the 3 leaf pack like the drivers side. Called a local well respected spring company and the guy knew exactly what the problem was. Sheared center bolt! Went down and let him look at it visually and yep, it had shifted. He told me that this is usually a sign that the u-bolts had loosened up or been loose at one time and the axle wrapping action shears the bolt....and usually on the pass. side with non LS diffs. Once the bolt shears, each roll of the axle spring pad slowly forces the lower spring to slide rearward. When this happens, it puts it into a different position and arc location to the upper pack causing it to provide force to or not allowing the pack to sit in a rested position and acts like an added spring leaf...kind of a backyard 1/2" lift kit....LOL.
The best part, he sold me a new center bolt @ $1 and told me the procedure which is just a little easier than removing the whole leaf pack and sent me on my way. They could have done it for a price, but he was helping me save some money and I thought that was very cool! If I ever need springs, I'll go there without question. And, they can reproduce the "L" spring pack since Ford no longer has them available....obsolete. But these guys have the specs to the "t". While in there, he also looked at the shackles and mounts and all was in great shape.
Well, there it is in a nut shell and I will be repairing this monday if the weather cooperates or I can use the shop at work. I'll let you all know how it turns out.
thanks for the info. you said you had an overload spring in youre leaf pack. thats interesting, can you pm me a pic of that or something. i wanna do that to my truck. I have the "N" code rear springs. is the "L" code a heavier rated spring? my truck "supposedly" has the tow package...... feel free to pm me about this if you want.
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Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 31
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From: Washington State
Hey Guys,
Just an update. Got the springs on today and they feel great. Will feel even better in a few weeks when they break in. The guys @ Benz Spring were great !!!!! Ready @ 8AM, with tools and springs in hand. Even let me jump into the mix and inspect areas with them while racked.
The drive/reverse engagement clunk is all but gone now that the drive line is right. Yep, the right spring pack must have been a salvage yard find to replace a bad set at some time in the past. It was 1 1/2" longer that the other and spec as well as having more arc also. They even looked at the tire wear and said more miles of "dog tracking" would have worn the tires badly. The old spring had the right side axle/tire out of square with the frame and left side. Good call to replace. They even brought out one of there managers to see it also. 1 1/2 hours and they were done torquing all the new hardware and u-bolts.
Now what we found that explains the remaining right side bed to cab alignment difference.........figure it out yet???? We looked and measured the cab mounts. The mounts on the right side are sacking a bit. Not cracked or broken....just worn! So, after I install the MOOG radius arm bushings and have the alignment done to match the new springs and bushings, I'll replace the cab mount bushings. Looking into either the energy suspension or the prothane. Don't know which, but they both state they are a little more forgiving than their suspension bushings to eliminate vibration transmission into the cab. I'll start a ne thread to see who's used what and who recommends what based on experiance.
Anyway, just wanted to up update you all.
Just an update. Got the springs on today and they feel great. Will feel even better in a few weeks when they break in. The guys @ Benz Spring were great !!!!! Ready @ 8AM, with tools and springs in hand. Even let me jump into the mix and inspect areas with them while racked.
The drive/reverse engagement clunk is all but gone now that the drive line is right. Yep, the right spring pack must have been a salvage yard find to replace a bad set at some time in the past. It was 1 1/2" longer that the other and spec as well as having more arc also. They even looked at the tire wear and said more miles of "dog tracking" would have worn the tires badly. The old spring had the right side axle/tire out of square with the frame and left side. Good call to replace. They even brought out one of there managers to see it also. 1 1/2 hours and they were done torquing all the new hardware and u-bolts.
Now what we found that explains the remaining right side bed to cab alignment difference.........figure it out yet???? We looked and measured the cab mounts. The mounts on the right side are sacking a bit. Not cracked or broken....just worn! So, after I install the MOOG radius arm bushings and have the alignment done to match the new springs and bushings, I'll replace the cab mount bushings. Looking into either the energy suspension or the prothane. Don't know which, but they both state they are a little more forgiving than their suspension bushings to eliminate vibration transmission into the cab. I'll start a ne thread to see who's used what and who recommends what based on experiance.
Anyway, just wanted to up update you all.
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minnesotafisherman
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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